Quinton Coples - the Next Great NC Pass Rusher?

North Carolina has produced a variety of good NFL defensive line prospects and talents in the past decade, ranging from Vonnie Holliday, to Julius Peppers, to Robert Quinn. Now, can Quinton Coples be added to that list?

At 6-6, 285, Coples has the size of an elite pass rusher and had an outstanding season last year, his first as a starter. Even with 2011 NFL Draft picks Quinn and Marvin Austin suspended for the entire season, Coples managed to build on a five-sack sophomore season by leading the Tar Heels with 10 sacks and recording 59 tackles and 13 tackles for a loss, including a forced fumble in the Music City Bowl against Tennessee.

Though I'm not quite sure yet if Coples is a more elite sack artist than Da'Quan Bowers, he does possess a good motor and delivers some big hits. He is able to get around the edge of the offensive line with his speed and also has surprisingly great strength to bull rush and push his way past lineman both as a rusher and in run support. Even if he does not get the sack, Coples is seemingly always around the play, applying quarterback pressure. However, he does not have one special move as a rusher and will need to improve that aspect of his game as a senior this next season.

I believe Coples fits best in a 4-3 scheme, but perhaps could play in a 3-4 if he can bulk up a bit due to his strength. With another double-digit sack season, he surely has the ability to become a top 10 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and become an even better prospect than 2011's Quinn, Ryan Kerrigan, and Aldon Smith. However, his production could fall because teammate Donte Paige-Moss has the ability to steal some sacks and build on his own first round potential.